Orlando, FL – In the crucial Game 5 matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Orlando Magic found themselves on the wrong side of a razor-thin margin, losing by a single point, with a crushing 104-103 final score. With the series now standing at 3-2 in favor of the Cavaliers, the Magic are facing a daunting challenge and a last hope of keeping their playoff dreams alive, looking to win two games before Cleveland wins one.
The game showcased a stellar performance from Orlando’s Paolo Banchero, who poured in an impressive 39 points, just shy of his career high. Despite having a series high in points, Banchero’s heroics ultimately weren’t enough to overcome the determined Cavaliers. Cleveland’s dynamic duo of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, who combined for 51 points and proved to be some of the most elite guards in the league throughout the game.
From the opening tip-off, it was evident that this contest would be a hard-fought battle. The Cavaliers surged ahead early, dominating the first quarter and breaking out with an early 10-point lead. Despite falling behind, the Magic refused to back down and were able to claw their way back into the game thanks to some support from the bench unit.
As the game progressed, the tension continued to mount, with both teams trading blows in a back-and-forth affair. Banchero elevated his game to another level in the fourth quarter by taking matters into his own hands and making the Cavalier defenders pay for allowing him to get to his spots. He seemed automatic from the elbow for what seemed like half the quarter, but eventually, he couldn’t keep the magic alive and Donovan Mitchell set the tempo for his squad on the other end by drawing fouls and slowing things down. The Magic had the opportunity to tie the game up with five seconds left in the quarter, but Evan Mobley blocked Franz Wagner’s layup attempt to seal the game.
Looking ahead, the Magic find themselves in a must-win situation as they head into Game 6. With their playoff hopes hanging in the balance, they’ll need to regroup and refocus their efforts to force a decisive Game 7. Banchero’s stellar performance serves as a beacon of hope for the team, and as long as the rest of the team is behind him, the Magic have a real shot. As the series comes to a close, the Magic will need to draw upon their collective strength and unity to climb out of the hole they’ve dug themselves into. The Magic will head back to Orlando in order to try and keep the Cavaliers at bay for at least one more game to make the series interesting.
